Hair extensions are a lifestyle. Many of our recurring clients wear their hair on repeat, going from one move-up appointment to the next without even a day-long break from hair extensions. While going without their extensions can seem unbearable for those clients who consider long, voluminous hair to be a part of their very identity, it can even feel odd for less-invested clients who have simply gotten used to the hair extension maintenance schedule. Regardless, wearing hair extensions nonstop can eventually strain the natural hair, and as a stylist, it’s up to you to intervene. Here are some tips:

- We recommend that some clients take a brief break from hair extensions between un-install and re-install to let the natural hair breathe, so to speak. This is a good time to perform restorative procedures to both the natural hair and extensions, revitalizing the locks for the second round. This will only involve a day or two of no hair extensions, so you can convince your more addicted clients to wear their hair up in the meantime.

- If hair feels dry, brittle, frayed, or looks particularly dull, tired, or distressed (particularly around the roots), it’s time to take a longer break from extensions. We recommend that, if damage is present, the client wait approximately 2-3 months (the normal length of one hair extension cycle) for the hair to grow out a little, so extensions will be installed on a healthier section of hair. Know that this can be very hard for longtime hair extension wearers to stomach, but it must be done for hair health, and there are ways to soften the blow. Offer restorative treatments during those 2-3 months to speed up the recovery process (and to bolster up your income), and introduce your client to Babe Instant Hair. We recommend the Babe Crown, since it rests against the head itself, rather than the hair—it will allow your client to experience their signature long locks, without the strain to their roots!

If your client likes their non-stop hair extension routine and doesn’t present any signs of hair damage, it’s totally okay to skip the break and go straight for re-install. But it doesn’t hurt to offer your perspective, or to prepare yourself for those occasions where an intervention is necessary. Your client will thank you in the end!

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